The two teams will meet each other in the semi-final of the European qualifier – both finalists will go to India in two years time.

France and Austria will go head-to-head in the other semi-final for the second spot in the next World Cup.

Ireland reached the semi-final after a two-goal win over Russia, with both goals coming from Benjamin Walker, who is currently one of the joint-top scorers in the qualifier.

Wales’ Gareth Furlong had the same effect on his side as his brace brought them past Italy and they are now one game away from a competition they have never reached – a game they play in the Welsh capital of Cardiff.

Ireland, on the other hand, are on a quest to reach their fourth World Cup and their second in a row after appearing at the 2018 instalment, also held in India.

Mark Tumilty’s side are 60 minutes away from achieving the goal of qualification but face a Wales team on the rise.

They recently moved up seven places in the World rankings to 18th, five behind the Irish, and have taken part in the top tier of the EuroHockey Championship for the past two tournaments.

The winner will play in India next year but the losers will not get another chance to qualify – it all comes down to this for Ireland and Wales.

Teams

Ireland: Carr (GK), Cross, McKee, Marshall, O’Donoghue, Murray (C), Duncan, Robson, Walker, Harte, Cole.

Subs: Ingram (GK), Madeley, Walsh, Glassey, McKibbin, Empey, Hyland.

Wales: Reynolds-Cotterill (GK), Daniel Kyriakides, Ioan Wall, Alf Dinnie, Jacob Draper, Prosser, Shipperley (C), Bradshaw, G. Furlong, Morgan, Hawker.

Subs: Tranter (GK), Naughalty, R. Furlong, Carson, Hutchinson, Dolan-Gray, Pritchard.

The post Ireland v Wales – Preview, Teams, Where To Watch appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The qualification tournament is being played at the Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff and features eight teams looking for the final European spot at the 2023 World Cup.

The national team need to win their first two games to land a place at the 2023 showpiece event to be played in India.

Ireland will be looking to reach a second successive World Cup and their fourth overall after appearing at their first in 28 years in 2018.

They come into the competition as the second-highest ranked side, one place behind France in 14th.

Their opponents, Russia, are yet to qualify for the World Cup, with this qualification tournament acting as a golden ticket for the second-lowest ranked team out of the eight competing.

If Ireland beat Russia, they will face either Wales or Italy on Saturday, October 23 for a place at the World Cup.

Mark Tumilty’s side qualified for the eight-team tournament after finishing third at the 2021 Men’s EuroHockey Championship II in Poland back in August.

Since then, Olympian Conor Harte has returned to the side while Luke Madeley, Jamie Carr and Lee Cole are also available having missed out on playing time at the Euros when they were deemed close contacts in the lead-up to the event.

11 of the team that saw game time in Poland have been called up for the qualifiers at the end of the month.

Russia earned their spot after qualifying for the 2021 Men’s EuroHockey Championship, at which they finished last after conceding 33 goals in six games.

Ireland will head into the qualifiers after sharing a series on short notice with Malaysia in Lisnagarvey at the start of October.

Team News

Ireland men’s squad for World Cup qualifiers (club/caps)
Jamie Carr (GK, KHC Leuven, 34)
Mark Ingram (GK, Pembroke, 27)
Tom Cross (Annadale, 22)
Luke Madeley (KHC Leuven, 23)
Lee Cole (Monkstown, 90)
Conor Harte (KHC Dragons, 254)
Peter McKibbin (Lisnagarvey, 8)
Kyle Marshall (Old Georgians, 7)
Shane O’Donoghue (Glenanne, 197)
Sean Murray (captain, KHC Leuven, 85)
Neal Glassey (Crefelder HTC, 67)
Daragh Walsh (KHC Leuven, 58)
Michael Robson (Annadale, 120)
Johnny McKee (Banbridge, 49)
Conor Empey (SCHC, 2)
Sam Hyland (YMCA, 2)
Ben Walker (Braxgata, 42)
Jeremy Duncan (Monkstown, 63)

Travelling reserves
Matthew Nelson (Lisnagarvey, 69)
Kevin O’Dea (UCD, 7)

Where To Watch

The match will begin at 4 pm and will be shown live on EuroHockeyTV.

The post Ireland v Russia – Preview, Team News, Where To Watch appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

World number 14 ranked Ireland need to win their first two games – starting off against Russia on Thursday, October 21st in the quarter-final – to land a place at the 2023 showpiece event to be played in India.

Should Ireland win that tie, they will face either Wales or Italy on Saturday, October 23 for a place at the World Cup.

France are the only side rated higher than Ireland that will be competing for a spot at the World Cup but they are on the other side of the draw.

Ireland earned a spot in the qualifier after coming third in August’s EuroHockey Championship II in Poland.

Since then, Olympian Conor Harte has returned to the side while Luke Madeley, Jamie Carr and Lee Cole are also available having missed out on playing time at the Euros when they were deemed close contacts in the lead-up to the event.

11 of the team that saw game time in Poland have been called up for the qualifiers at the end of the month.

The side will head into the qualifiers after sharing a series on short notice with Malaysia in Lisnagarvey last week.

To see the women’s squad for their World Cup qualifiers, click here.

Ireland men’s squad for World Cup qualifiers (club/caps)
Jamie Carr (GK, KHC Leuven, 34)
Mark Ingram (GK, Pembroke, 27)
Tom Cross (Annadale, 22)
Luke Madeley (KHC Leuven, 23)
Lee Cole (Monkstown, 90)
Conor Harte (KHC Dragons, 254)
Peter McKibbin (Lisnagarvey, 8)
Kyle Marshall (Old Georgians, 7)
Shane O’Donoghue (Glenanne, 197)
Sean Murray (captain, KHC Leuven, 85)
Neal Glassey (Crefelder HTC, 67)
Daragh Walsh (KHC Leuven, 58)
Michael Robson (Annadale, 120)
Johnny McKee (Banbridge, 49)
Conor Empey (SCHC, 2)
Sam Hyland (YMCA, 2)
Ben Walker (Braxgata, 42)
Jeremy Duncan (Monkstown, 63)

Travelling reserves
Matthew Nelson (Lisnagarvey, 69)
Kevin O’Dea (UCD, 7)

Head Coach: Mark Tumilty
Assistant coach: Jason Klinkradt
Manager: Neil Irwin
Physical trainer: Eoin Cunniffe
Physio: Cameron Steele
Video technician: Ross Willis

 
FIH Men’s World Cup 2023 – European qualifier (Cardiff, October 21-24, 2021)
Thursday, October 21: Ireland v Russia, 4pm
Saturday, October 23: semi-final
Sunday, October 24: final/classification matches

The post Ireland head coach Tumilty announces experienced side for WC qualifiers appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

It was the second defeat that Jonathan Bell’s side had inflicted on the Polish after a 2-1 win in the teams’ opening match.

Teenager Kevin O’Dea’s brace was what separated the two sides in the end – O’Dea had made his Ireland debut against Poland earlier in the competition.

Ireland’s stunning first half had the host nation chasing after them from the beginning with a penalty corner in the opening minutes causing Poland trouble.

O’Dea scored towards the end of the first quarter after he controlled a pass from Peter McKibbin and slotted home.

Jonny McKee added another before the quarter came to a close who stroked home at the second time of asking.

Ireland continued their trend of missing chances while ahead after the loss to Scotland but it did not come back to haunt them like the semi-final.

Poland came to life in the third quarter and got their first goal through Wojtek Rutkowski, who fired home from their second penalty corner.

Ireland responded well and Shane O’Donoghue scored his fourth of the tournament to further the gap to two once more.

Jacek Kurowski kept his side in contention when he added a second but the Polish were unable to find an elusive third.

Ireland vanquished any lingering doubts about the result among fans with a fourth goal three minutes from time putting the final nail in the Polish coffin.

Ian Stewart’s shot was parried after a nice move from Bell’s attacking side but O’Dea was on hand to score his second of the day on the rebound and secure the bronze medal for the national side.

Ireland’s third-place finish also guarantees the side a 2023 FIH World Cup qualifier spot.

The side will battle it out with seven other European nations in Cardiff in October for a spot at the upcoming World Cup in India.

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